Independence
BUILDING IS THE PATHWAY TO YOUR CHILD’S RESILIENCE
“WHAT DOESN’T KILL YOU MAKES YOU STRONGER”
By Michael Grose
PARENTS AND TEACHERS OFTEN ASK ME HOW TO BUILD RESILIENCE IN KIDS. My response is always the same. “Start by building independence and resilience will follow.”
Children are hard-wired for independence Sometime around the age of fifteen months (give or take three months) most children will make a strong case for self-sufficiency. They demand to do things their own way. This demand is soon backed by a strong voice – “NOOOO!” - and the more articulate cries of “I can do it!” as their third birthday approaches. This is the time to harness their push for independence and selfsufficiency. Their push for independence will see most children take incredible physical risks in the form of play, the exploration of their immediate environment and their wish to gain mastery over their environment. Concerned parents will naturally minimise risks by moving furniture around, keeping doors closed and hiding sharp implements at home, to name a few protective measures. But parents can’t eradicate all risks. They recognise that kids will fall and hurt themselves but they’ll also get up and go again. In time, they’ll learn to assess situations, stare down their fears and test themselves out in new situations. Falling down, brushing yourself off and trying again is part of the natural learning experience for most young children. Parents don’t have to do much more than assess a situation for real dangers, stand back and allow kids to explore their environments and pull them up when their play and explorations transgresses the rights and peace of others. continued next page.....
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Peninsula Kids – Summer 2017/18